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Catholic concern for Aborigines and their land heritage has been expressed strongly in two statements by C atholic bishops that appear in this issue.
On page 5 Bishop John Jobst in whose diocese of Broome the controversial Noonkanbah station is situated gives the fruit of his long a ssociation with Kimberley Aborigines. Aboriginal affairs took up a good deal of time at the recent meeting of the Bishops of Australia.
Pastoral As a result they have issued a pastoral letter to express their pastoral concern. The pastoral is printed on page 16. The aim of the document, the bishops say, is to assure the Aboriginal people that their call has been heard for support to have their lands, as a fundamental and legitimate right. The statement is called a background document and is not a attempt to answer all the needs of Aborigines.
Examples Nor is it an attempt to list all the good initiatives and examples of c o-operation in work with Aborigines throughout the country. Bishop Faulkner of Townsville said: "We hope that in a gentle way, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians will come to know each other better, and understand each other better. "We hope that white Australians will come to understand better the Aborigines' aspirations for land."
Above is the scene in St Mary's Cathedral last Sunday when Archbishop Goody instituted 120 men into the lay ministry of acolyte. It was the fifth major ceremony ofits kindsince acolytes were first E.= instituted in 1974. In groups of eight the acolytes stood at the altar touching chalices with wine and patens with altar breads while the archbishop pronounced the formula of institution. A fterwards the acolytes stoodin the sanctuary while the Archbishop led them in a renewal of their baptismal commitment.
120 instituted as acolytes
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MOVE IN US TOWARDS MARRIED PRIESTS
FOR THE
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WASHINGTON: The Pope has authorised US bishopsto draw up proceduresforthe admission of married Episcopal (Anglican) clergy to the Catholic priesthood if they apply.
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A spokesman said that the step was "inevit- be allowed to retain some "common able" as for the past two years the US bishops identity". This seems to imply some other link as well have been discussing a number of applicaas being received into existing Catholic diotions from individual clergymen. The move may signal a reverse of strong ceses as is the practice when clergymen from US Catholic opposition to married clergy other denominations are ordained Catholic operating in the United States in the Eastern priests. Catholic rites. Two years they reacted Additionally, the convert priests may be strongly to an Eastern rite ordination of mar- allowed to retain certain Anglican elements ried men. in the celebration of the liturgy. The current Vatican approval points out that applications for admission to Catholic Other restrictions on the married priests priesthood will be judged individually on are: terms yet to be approved by the Vatican • As with Eastern churches, a married Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. priest will not be permitted to become a The step will be treated as "reconciliation bishop. of individuals with the Roman Catholic • A married priest may not remarry in the Church". event of widowhood. Each applicant will have to make a profes• An unmarried candidate may not subsesion of faith in the doctrine of the Catholic quently marry. Church. Bishop Law of Springfield who has been a A radical departure from the practice till liaison in discussions with Episcopal minisnow however is that the convert priests may ters said that it was a unique problem to
which a pastoral response was being made. The clergy believed their consciences demanded that they seek full union with the Catholic Church. On the other hand they had entered the ministry in "total good faith in a tradition that permitted a married priesthood." The admission of married Episcopal priests would in no way change the tradition of a celibate clergy in the Latin rite, he said. Archbishop Quinn, head of the US Bishops Conference, said that the Catholic Church would have to wait and see if the move hurts relationships with the Episcopal Church. "No doubt they will be strained at some point" he added. But the decision had been made in response to requests by individuals and was not an attempt by the Catholic Church to steal Episcopalians. He also said that the decision might open the door to similar moves with members of other churches.
(In WA: Pages 8, 9)